Article holding fixture



March 11, 1947. c, TRIMBLE ARTICLE HOLDING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 19, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR a C. H. TRIMBLE 4 4 A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 11, 1947 1.;-

ARTICLE HOLDING FIXTURE Charles H. Trimble, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 19, 1943, Serial No. 506,853

8 Claims. (Cl. 113-99) This invention relates to article holding fixtures and more particularly tofixtures for holding a plurality of articles to be assembled.

In welding a plurality of angle irons into a frame, it is necessary to retain the individual angle irons in spaced relationship to each other so that just the correct amount of distance sep a rates them for themost suitable welding.

It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved article holding fixtures.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a fixture for welding rectangular frame assemblies including aplate having a plurality of copper inserts secured therein at welding positions to prevent welded parts from adhering thereto gauges adjacent to the corners of the plate, cam means for forcing frame members to be welded against the gauges, clamps at the corners of the plate for securing the frame members during the welding operation, and means for adjusting the relative positions of several elements to accommodate frames of different sizes.

The invention may be completely understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, taken with the an-v holding fixture.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings the fixture illustrated therein comprises a U-shaped frame I having a pair of parallel arms l l and 1 I2 joined at one end by a member I3 and having secured thereto at the other end thereof a clamping plate I 5. The arm I I has a plurality of apertures Il-I'l and l8-l8 therein which are spaced in two parallel lines along the length of the arm.

The arm l2 has similar apertures -20 and '2l-2l spaced in parallel lines therealong. Each of the apertures Il-ll and Ill-I8 i at a distance from the plate l6 equal to the distance at which one of the apertures 20-20 and 2l-zl, respectively, is spaced from the plate IS. A secend end plate 22 having a pair of apertures 23-23 at one end and a similar pair 24-24 at the other end thereof is adjustably secured to the arms II and 12 by .meansiof bolts 21-21vv and 2 28-28 passing through the apertures 23-23 and 24-24, respectively, and each threaded through one of the apertures l'l-Il, 18-18, 20-20 and 2 l-2I, respectively.

Gauges 29 and 30 are secured to the plate 22 at opposite ends thereof. The gauge 30 has surfaces 33 and 34 formed thereon perpendicular to each other, the surface 34 being parallel to the arms I l and I2 and the surface 33 being perpendicular thereto. The gauge 29 has surfaces 36 and 31 formed thereon which are parallel to the surfaces 33 and 34,respectively. Generally rectangular inserts 39-39 are secured within apertures 43-40 and ll-4| formed in the plates l6 and 22, respectively; The inserts 39-39 are preferablyof copper but may be of any other material to which the welded parts will not adhere.

Cam members 43 and 44 are secured to plate l5 and cam members 45 and 46 are secured to plate 22. These cam members are similar'to each other and for simplicity sake only cam member 45 will be described. The cam member 45 has cam surfaces 49 and 50 formed thereon and circular apertures 52 and 53 formed therein (Fig. 4). A cylindrical cam 55 is rotatably and eccentrically secured within the aperture 52 by a bolt 55 threaded into an aperture 58 formed in the plate 22. A flanged bolt 59 is threaded into an aperture 60 formed in the plate 22 and passes through the aperture 53, which is larger than the diameter of the threaded portion of the bolt 59.

The flanged bolt 59 bears against the upper surface of the cam member 45 to hold the cam member 45 against the'upper surface of the plate 22.

plate 22. If the cam 55 is rotated 180 from the position shown in Fig. 1, it, being eccentrically mounted on the bolt 56, will force the cam member 45 downwardly and to the left across the face of the plate 22. If, after this rotation, the cam 55 is rotated another 180 the cam member 45 will be forced upwardly and to the right to assume the position shown in Fig. 1. The enlarged aperture 53 permits limited movements of the member 45 about the bolt 59 therein but the cam member 45 is prevented by the bolt 59 from being rotated to any great extent about this bolt. The cam members 43, 44 and 46 are actuated in a manner similar to that just described.

Pins 64 and 65 are driven into suitable bores formed in the plate zzalong a line perpendicular to the arms II and I2 and to the surfaces 34 and 31. Pins 68 and 69 are mounted on suitable apertures formed in the plate I6 along a line parallel to that formed by the pins 64 and 65. Pins 1| and I2 are driven into suitable apertures in the plate I6, and pins I3 and I4 are similarly mounted in apertures formed in the plate 22 in a position so that pins II and I4 form a line parallel to the arms ,II and I2, as do the pins 12 and I3. The lines along which the pins II and I4, and I2 and I3 are located are perpendicular to the lines formed by the pins 64 and 65, and 68 and 69.

Similar gauges I6 and 11 are secured to the plate I6 on opposite ends thereof. Gauge I1 has a surface I8 formed thereon which surface is aligned with the surface 31. A plate-I9 (Fig. 2) is mounted in a notch 89 formed in the gauge 1! by means of screws 8I-8I which pass through elongated slots 82--92 formed in the plate I9, which plate has a bore 83 formed therein in alignment with a bore 84 formed in the gauge 11. A spring 81 fits into the aligned bores 83 and 84, and hence presses the Plate I9 along the notch 89 in the gauge H, A surface 88 is formed upon the plate I9 perpendicular to the surface I8 formed on the gauge 1! but parallel to the surfaces 33 and 36. A plate 89 is resiliently mounted upon the gau e I6 in a manner similar to that in which the plate I9 is mounted upon the gauge 11 and has a surface 99 formed thereon, in alignment with the surface 88 and parallel to the plate I6. A surface 9| is formed on the gauge I6 perpendicular to the surface 99 and in alignment with the surface 34.

Extensions 92, 93, 94 and 95 of the plates I6 and 22 have mounted thereon clamps 96, 91, 98 and 99, respectively. Since the clamps 96, 91, 98 and 99 are identical, only the clamp 98 will be described in detail. The clamp 98 (Fig. 3) consists of a pair of brackets I 99--I99 secured to the extension 94 and having pins I9I and I92 extending therebetween upon which are mounted a lever I93 and an L-shaped handle I94, respectively. The handle I94 has lugs I9'5-I95 formed on the inner end thereof and a pin I96 passes through apertures in the lugs and through an elongated, slot I9! formed in the lever I93. A transverse member I98 secured to the outer end of the lever I93 has formed thereon L-shaped arms I99-I99, Bolts II9-I I9 are threaded into apertures formed in the arms I99-I99 and may be secured in any adjusted position by nuts II I-I I I. The clamp 98 is shown in the closed or clamping position and the clamp 99 is shown in the open or unclamping position in which a lever H3 and a handle II4 are raised to vertical positions. To open the clamp 98 the handle I94 is rotated counterclockwise about the pin I92, as viewed in Fig. 3. During such rotation the pin I96 slides in the slot I9! and thereby causes the lever I93 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the pin I9I to a slightly overcenter position with respect to the pin I96 whereby the clamp, if undisturbed, will be retained in such a position. To reclose the clamp 98 from such a position, the handle I94 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and the pin I96 will force the lever I93 in a counterclockwise direction until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 3. When the clamp 98 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the pin I96 will be slightly to the right of the pin I92 and will be in the outer extremity of the slot I91. Hence, if any upward force is exerted against the left end of the lever I93, the right :end'Of the lever will bear downwardly against the pin I92 and thus tend to rotate the handle in a clockwise or unopening position. The clamp 98 will be held in its closed position until the handle is operated to open it.

In the operation of the above described fixture, the clamps 96, 91, 98 and 99 are all moved to the open position, as illustrated by clamp 99 as shown in the drawings. Cam members 43, 44, 45 and 46 are also all moved to retracted positions as illustrated by cam members 43, 44 and 46 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Angle irons I2I, I22, I23 and I24, which are to be Welded together and have been cut to their desired lengths, are positioned within the clamping fixture so that their ends abut the surfaces 33, 34, 36, 31, 18, 88, 99 and 9|, respectively. It will be seen that the angle irons I22 and I24 are resiliently held between the surfaces 99 and 33, and 88 and 36, respectively, since the plates I9 and 89 are resiliently mounted upon the gauges IT and I6, respectively.

The cam members 43, 44, 45 and 46 are then moved by their respective cams so that the cam surfaces thereon are thrust against the angle irons to force the angle irons against the pins 64, 65, 68, 69, H, l2, I3 and I4 to perfectly orientate the angle irons at right angles to each other. The cam members 43, 44, 45 and 46 are retained in their clamping positions as illustrated in Fig. 1 by the position of the cam member 45, which has been moved to that position by the'rotatlon of the cylindrical cam which is eccentrically mounted. During such movement of the cam member 45, the enlarged aperture 53 through which the smaller bolt 59 passes permits the cam ,member 45 to rotate about the cylindrical cam 55 a suflicient amount during the closing thereof that the member 45 will follow the lines of least resistance during such movement until both of the cam surfaces 49 and 59 have engaged and securely thrust the ends of angle irons I2I and I22 firmly against the pins 64 and I3.

The clamps 96, 91, 98 and 99 are then closed to maintain the angle irons I2I, I22, I23 and I24 against the copper plates 39-39, after which welds I3II3I (Fig. 5) are formed in accordance with standard practice. The clamps 96; 91, 98 and 99 and the cam members 43, 44, 45' and 46 may then be released so that the resulting welded frame may be removed from the fixture and the above outlined steps may be repeated to make additional frames.

It will be observed that the ends of the angle irons at which the welds I 3I--I3I are formed are positioned over the copper plates 39-39 so that the welds I3I-I3I will not adhere to the copper plates and the assembled angle irons may be easily removed.

If it is desired to use longer or shorter angle irons than angle irons I22 and I 24, the bolts 21-2! and 28-28 may be unscrewed from the apertures in the members II and I2 and the frame 22 moved to a different position and secured in that position by threading the bolts into another of the series of apertures II-II, Iii-I8, 2929 and 2I-2I, respectively. Thus, the fixture may be adjusted to accommodate parts of different lengths.

The fixture embodying the invention facilitates the welding operation and the inserts of copper or other suitable material prevent the welded article from sticking to the fixture so that after the article has been welded together it may be removed readily... The angle irons are oriented with'respect to each other and secured in this position during the welding operation so that the resulting frame is a perfect rectangle.

What is claimed is:

1. An article assembling fixture which comprises a, pair of side frame members secured together in parallel relationship, an end frame member rigidly secured to the parallel members, a second end frame member adapted to be adjustably secured to the parallel members in a plurality of positions, each of said end frame members having recesses formed therein, copper plates secured in said recesses upon which plates portions of parts to be welded together may be positioned, aligned gauging pins secured to the frame members, a plurality of gauges secured to the first mentioned frame, each of which gauges has a resilient member mounted thereon, gauges secured to the second frame, a plurality of cam means secured to the frames to force a plurality of angle irons to be secured together against the gauging pins, and clamping means to force the angle irons against the end frames.

2. A fixture for welding frame assemblies, which comprises a rectangular frame, a plurality of stops secured thereto adjacent to the corners thereof, generally triangular plates slidably mounted on the frame adjacent to the corners thereof, cam means for sliding the plates against elements to be welded together to secure the elements in welding positions between the plates and the stops, and means mounted on the corners of the frame for clamping the elements to the frame in welding positions.

3. A fixture for welding frame assemblies, which comprises a rectangular frame, a plurality of stops secured thereto adjacent to the corners thereof, a plurality of plates having a plurality of cam surfaces thereon, means for securing the plates to the frame adjacent to the corners thereof and permitting sliding of the plates toward and away from the corners of the frame and limited lateral movement thereof, and a cam for actuating each plate, whereby when two elements are placed on the frame at a, right angle to each other and the plates are moved by the cam toward the corners of the frame, the cam surfaces thereon engage and firmly clamp the elements against the stops.

4. A fixture for welding frame assemblies, which comprises a platform, a plurality of stops extending perpendicularly from the top of the platform, a cam member for forcing a plurality of elements to be assembled against the stops, means for actuating the cam member, and means for clamping against the top of the platform a plurality of elements held by the cam member against the stops.

5. A fixture for welding frame assemblies, which comprises a platform, a plurality of stops secured thereto at predetermined points thereon,

a plurality of plates having projections formed thereon slidably mounted on the platform adjacent to the stops, and means for sliding the plates against elements positioned on the platform to be welded together to secure the elements in welding positions between the projections and the stops.

6. A fixture for welding frame assemblies, which comprises a platform, a plurality of stops secured to the platform, a, plate having elementengaging lobes formed thereon slidably mounted on the platform, and an eccentric cam for sliding the plate toward the stops, whereby a plurality of elements to be welded together may be secured to the platform between the stops and the lobes.

7. A fixture for welding frame assemblies, which comprises a platform, a pair of stops projecting from the platform, a plate having a pair of article-engaging surfaces formed thereon, means for mounting the plate on the platform for sliding and pivotal movement of the plate relative to the platform, and means for sliding the plate simultaneously toward both of the stops,

8. A fixture for welding frame assemblies, which comprises a platform, a, pair of stops projecting from the platform on opposite sides of a corner thereof, a plate having a pair of articleengaging lobes formed thereon, a cam for securing the plate on the platform for sliding and rotating movement relative to the platform, and

means for rotating the cam to slide the plate simultaneously toward both of the stops.

CHARLES H. TRIMBLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,642,549 Jarecki Sept. 13, 1927 1,759,036 Brantingham May 20, 1930 2,047,190 Blickman July 14, 1936 2,095,964 Blickman Oct. 19, 1937 1,604,483 Roberts Oct. 19, 1937 2,176,664 Burke Oct. 17, 1939 1,840,737 Peck Jan. 12, 1932 1,765,235 Kefier June 17, 1930 1,159,279 Schaefer Nov. 2, 1915 1,755,284 Colt Apr. 22, 1930 364,491 Davis June 7, 1887 902,491 Ireland Oct. 27, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 403,892 German Oct. 9, 1924 82,232 German Dec. 25, 1894 

